Will Justin Bieber join girlfriend Selena Gomez at the Maryland State Fair?

George Pimentel, Getty Images

Selena Gomez performs Friday at the Maryland State Fair. But will her boyfriend Justin Bieber, who played last year's fair, be there?

Selena Gomez performs Friday at the Maryland State Fair. But will her boyfriend Justin Bieber, who played last year's fair, be there? (George Pimentel, Getty Images)

Wesley Case, The Baltimore Sun

Will they or won't they?

It's a question that has surrounded Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez — the pre-teen equivalent of Brangelina — for more than a year now. Will they come out as an official couple? Yes. Will they go on vacation together and have their make-out sessions photographed by paparazzi? Of course.

But the burning question for Maryland teens and tweens is, will The Biebs show up at Gomez's gig Friday night at the Maryland State Fair? And if so, will they perform together?

Last year, when Bieber headlined the fair, thousands of teens lined up outside several hours in advance for choice spots at his show. One year later, it's Gomez's turn.

If Paul Manna of 24-7 Entertainment, who booked the fair's live entertainment, knows whether Bieber is appearing, he's keeping it a secret.

Will Gomez and Bieber share a funnel cake while playing Whack-A-Mole in Timonium? Manna is mum on the idea.

"I think I have to leave it at that," he said.

Bieber was with Gomez at the Pennsylvania amusement park Sunday, as evidenced by frantic YouTube clips of screaming fans following the couple from ride to ride. But there was no surprise Bieber cameo during her set later that night.

Either way, Manna says, tickets for the show are selling quickly.

"Capacity is 10,000, and we're very, very close to sold out now," he says.

The two stars aren't offering any clues to the Maryland State Fair mystery.

The chances of finding out before Friday whether or not Bieber will join Gomez onstage are about as good as knowing when Bieber will shave off his golden locks.

But that doesn't mean there isn't a glimmer of hope for the ravenous fan bases.

Perhaps Bieber will be in a surprise-performance mood Friday, like he was in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. He crashed Taylor Swift's concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and performed his song "Baby" as a duet with the country star.

If he's willing to lend a hand to friends like Swift, who says he won't do the same for his girlfriend on Friday night?

Never say never.

If you go

Selena Gomez & the Scene perform Friday at the Maryland State Fair, held at the fairgrounds, 2200 York Road in Timonium. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $42.50. Allstar Weekend also performs. For more information, go to marylandstatefair.com.